Open AccessBotrytis cinerea virulence factors: new insights into a necrotrophic and polyphageous pathogen
Author(s) -
Choquer Mathias,
Fournier Elisabeth,
Kunz Caroline,
Levis Caroline,
Pradier JeanMarc,
Simon Adeline,
Viaud Muriel
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00930.x
Subject(s) - botrytis cinerea , virulence , biology , botrytis , pathogen , fungus , microbiology and biotechnology , host (biology) , organism , population , gene , botany , genetics , demography , sociology
Abstract Botrytis cinerea is responsible for the gray mold disease on more than 200 host plants. This necrotrophic ascomycete displays the capacity to kill host cells through the production of toxins, reactive oxygen species and the induction of a plant‐produced oxidative burst. Thanks to an arsenal of degrading enzymes, B. cinerea is then able to feed on different plant tissues. Recent molecular approaches, for example on characterizing components of signal transduction pathways, show that this fungus shares conserved virulence factors with other phytopathogens, but also highlight some Botrytis ‐specific features. The discovery of some first strain‐specific virulence factors, together with population data, even suggests a possible host adaptation of the strains. The availability of the genome sequence now stimulates the development of high‐throughput functional analysis to decipher the mechanisms involved in the large host range of this species.